Irenaeus:
"If any one, however, advocating the cause of the Jews,
does maintain that this new covenant consisted in the
rearing of that temple which was built under Zerubbabel
after the emigration to Babylon, and in the departure of
the people from thence after the lapse of seventy years,
let him know that the temple constructed of stones was
indeed then rebuilt (for as yet that law was observed
which had been made upon tables of stone), yet no new
covenant was given, but they used the Mosaic law until
the coming of the Lord; but from the Lord's advent,
the new covenant which brings back peace, and the law
which gives life, has gone forth over the whole earth,
as the prophets said: "For out of Zion shall go forth
the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;
and He shall rebuke many people; and they shall break
down their swords into ploughshares, and their spears
into pruninghooks, and they shall no longer learn to fight."
(Proof Against the Marcionites, that the Prophets Referred
in All Their Predictions to Our Christ, "Against Heresies,"
Book IV, Chapter 34)
Tertullian:
"among us, who have been called out of the nations,
-'and they shall join to beat their glaives into ploughs,
and their lances into sickles; and nations shall not take
up glaive against nation, and they shall no more learn
to fight.' Who else, therefore, are understood but we,
who, fully taught by the new law, observe these practices,
- the old law being obliterated, the coming of whose
abolition the action itself demonstrates?" ("Of Circumcision
and the Supercession of the Old Law," An Answer to the
Jews, Chapter III)
Melito of Sardis:
"Who will contend against me? Let him stand before me.
It is I who delivered the condemned. It is I who gave life
to the dead. It is I who raised up the buried. Who will
argue with me? It is I, says Christ, who destroyed death.
It is I who triumphed over the enemy, and having trod
down Hades, and bound the Strong Man, and have
snatched mankind up to the heights of heaven."
St. Athanasius: "Now, however, that the devil, that tyrant
against the whole world, is slain, we do not approach a
temporal feast, my beloved, but an eternal and heavenly.
Not in shadows do we shew it forth, but we come to it in
truth. For they being filled with the flesh of a dumb lamb,
accomplished the feast, and having anointed their door
posts with the blood, implored aid against the destroyer.
For no more does death reign; but instead of death
henceforth is life, since our Lord said, 'I am the life;'
so that everything is filled with joy and gladness;
as it is written, 'The Lord reigneth, let the earth
rejoice.' For when death reigned, 'sitting down by
the rivers of Babylon, we wept,' and mourned, because
we felt the bitterness of captivity; but now that death
and the kingdom of the devil is abolished, everything
is entirely filled with joy and gladness. And God is
no longer known only in Judaea, but in all the earth,
'their voice hath gone forth, and the knowledge of
Him hath filled all the earth.' (Letter 256, Part 3)
Odes of Solomon: "Because He is my Sun and His rays
have lifted me up and His light hath dispelled all darkness
from my face. In Him I have acquired eyes and have seen
His holy day: The way of error I have left, and have walked
towards Him and have received salvation from Him, without
grudging. I have put on incorruption through His name:
and have put off corruption by His grace. Death hath been
destroyed before my face: and Sheol bath been abolished
by my word."
--
"Waste not fresh tears over old griefs." - Euripides
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